Everyday Phrases From the Bible
Instructions: Discover how many common sayings — like "the writing on the wall" and "a drop in the bucket" — actually come straight from the pages of Scripture.
- 1.
The phrase "the writing on the wall," meaning a warning sign of doom, comes from which book of the Bible?
ADanielBRevelationCEzekielDProverbs - 2.
When we say someone is "the salt of the earth," meaning a decent, down-to-earth person, which book of the Bible are we quoting?
AMatthewBGenesisCPsalmsDRomans - 3.
The expression "a drop in the bucket," meaning a tiny, insignificant amount, comes from the Book of Isaiah. What was Isaiah describing?
AThe nations of the earth compared to God's greatnessBWater drawn from the River JordanCThe offerings of the Temple priestsDThe tears of the exiled people - 4.
We still say "forbidden fruit" to mean something desirable but off-limits. Which garden does this phrase come from?
AThe Garden of EdenBThe Garden of GethsemaneCThe Garden of OlivesDThe Garden of Solomon - 5.
"An eye for an eye" is one of the most quoted Bible phrases. In its original context in Exodus, what was its purpose?
ATo set a fair limit on punishment so it matched the crimeBTo encourage personal revengeCTo describe God's punishment of sinnersDTo explain why wars are justified - 6.
If someone "washes their hands" of a problem, they are echoing a famous gesture made by which figure in the New Testament?
APontius PilateBJudas IscariotCKing HerodDCaiaphas the high priest - 7.
The saying "can a leopard change its spots?" meaning people rarely change their true nature, is found in which Old Testament book?
AJeremiahBJobCIsaiahDAmos - 8.
"A fly in the ointment" means a small flaw that spoils something good. Where does this expression come from in the Bible?
AEcclesiastesBLeviticusCNumbersDSong of Solomon - 9.
We use "scapegoat" to mean someone who is blamed for others' mistakes. In the original Bible story, what was an actual scapegoat?
AA goat sent into the wilderness carrying the sins of the peopleBA goat sacrificed on the altar on the Day of AtonementCA goat belonging to the high priest of JerusalemDA goat given as an offering to a neighboring tribe - 10.
"Bite the dust" is often thought of as a cowboy expression, but it also appears in the Bible. In Psalm 72, who is described as biting the dust?
AThe enemies of the kingBThe wicked of IsraelCThe armies of EgyptDThe fallen angels - 11.
The phrase "the blind leading the blind" is used when unqualified people are in charge. Who first said it, according to the Gospels?
AJesusBJohn the BaptistCThe Apostle PaulDMoses - 12.
"At the eleventh hour" means at the very last moment. This phrase comes from one of Jesus' parables about workers in a vineyard. What did the eleventh-hour workers receive?
AThe same pay as those who worked all dayBLess pay because they worked fewer hoursCMore pay as a reward for their faithDNo pay, but a blessing instead - 13.
When we say someone "raised Cain" to mean they caused a lot of trouble, we are referring to Cain from Genesis. Why is Cain associated with trouble?
AHe murdered his brother AbelBHe disobeyed God in the Garden of EdenCHe built the Tower of BabelDHe sold his birthright for a bowl of stew - 14.
"Sour grapes" — meaning pretending not to want something you cannot have — comes from one of Aesop's fables, but the exact phrase appears in which Bible book?
AEzekielBProverbsCHoseaDLamentations - 15.
We say someone is "a good Samaritan" when they help a stranger. In Jesus' original parable, why was it surprising that a Samaritan helped the injured man?
AJews and Samaritans deeply distrusted each other in that eraBSamaritans were known for being very wealthy and unlikely to stopCThe Samaritan was a Roman soldier in disguiseDSamaritans were not permitted to enter Jewish territory by law